Can Redondo High Beat That Playoff Jinx? : Team Has Fallen 5 Times in 1st Round--Coach Still Optimistic

During Redondo’s 6-0 win over El Segundo last week to clinch a tie for the Pioneer League title, a rival coach in the bleachers looked ahead to the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

“Redondo has a good team,” he said, “but they have that playoff jinx.”

Whether or not the Sea Hawks like to admit it, others seem to be aware of the school’s failures in postseason play.

While Redondo boasts one of the South Bay’s winningest programs, the Sea Hawks have suffered five first-round playoff setbacks since 1980, including home losses the last two years.

Led by an unbeaten pitcher, though, fourth-seeded Redondo (27-2) hopes to change its luck when it opens the 4-A Division playoffs on the road against Lompoc (13-10-1) at 3 p.m. Friday. In two previous playoff trips to Lompoc, the Sea Hawks lost in the 3-A semifinals in 1979 and in the first round in 1980.

Redondo Coach Harry Jenkins scoffs at talk of a jinx.

“Each team is different,” he said. “There’s a different set of players every year. This team has hung together well. I’m looking forward to it. Maybe it’s our turn to play well.”

As usual, Redondo will count heavily on pitcher Scott Davison (15-0). The right-hander has been almost unhitable, leading the Sea Hawks to their fourth consecutive league title. He has an 0.22 ERA with 179 strikeouts and only 20 walks in 93 innings.

But even Davison hasn’t escaped the playoff jinx. Included in his 45-5 career record are first-round losses to Millikan and South Hills in the last two years. Weakened by a stiff back, Davison was hit hard by South Hills in a stunning 6-5 loss last season.

Jenkins must have felt like he was reliving a nightmare when Davison, who plays shortstop when he isn’t pitching, split open his right ring finger while taking infield practice before Friday’s 10-1 loss to El Segundo. The injury isn’t considered serious, however.

“He’s fine,” Jenkins said. “There are no stitches. He threw Monday and looked fine.”

Although Lompoc has close to a .500 record, the Braves have won nine of their last 10 games. Left-hander Eddie Wray (5-4) capped the regular season with a no-hitter against San Luis Obispo. Right-hander Mike Terrones (4-3, 3.40 ERA) is considered Lompoc’s top pitcher and outfielder Jason Thompson leads the team in hitting (.368, 4 home runs, 25 RBIs).

Dan Bodary, who is closing in on 400 career wins, has guided Lompoc to the CIF finals six times and three championships in 22 years. The Braves’ last title was in 1979, the year they beat Redondo in the semifinals.

Jenkins, concerned about the 200-mile trip, said the team might drive to Lompoc today and stay in a motel.

Following is a rundown of other Southern Section playoff openers involving South Bay teams. All games start Friday at 3 p.m. unless noted.

Esperanza (17-8) at North Torrance (18-9)--)North’s task in the 5-A playoffs is to beat a team that reached the 4-A finals last year and won the CIF title in 1986. Esperanza isn’t as strong as in recent seasons, but the Aztecs are still to be reckoned with. Their formidable lineup is headed by designated hitter Jim Short (.552, 5 home runs), shortstop Doug Saunders (.481, 6 home runs) and third baseman Jason Moler. Saunders and Moler have signed with Illinois, coached by former Cal State Fullerton mentor Augie Garrido. Either right-hander Roger Weems (7-4) or left-hander Rob Nay (5-1) is expected to start for Esperanza. Bay League champion North hopes right-hander Greg Davis can extend his 10-0 record at home. This year Davis is 8-4 overall with a 1.33 ERA and a team-leading .371 batting average.

Anaheim (13-11) vs. El Segundo (21-8) at Recreation Park, 7:30 p.m.--This is Anaheim’s first trip to the playoffs since 1980, the year it lost to South Torrance in the 3-A finals. Anaheim won only four games last season, but first-year Coach Dave Torres guided the Colonists to a third-place finish in the Orange League. The offensive-minded team is led by infielder Joe Perez (.395) and sophomore catcher Ryan Jara (.367, 4 home runs). Both of Anaheim’s top pitchers have high ERAs, which could mean trouble. El Segundo, seeded No. 2 in the 4-A playoffs, has one of the South Bay’s best hitting teams. Leaders are first baseman-pitcher Heath Jones (.489, 9 home runs, 41 RBIs), catcher Jose Sanchez (.439, 10 home runs, 42 RBIs) and shortstop Jeremy Varner (.423, 12 doubles, 31 RBIs).

Rolling Hills (10-13) at El Dorado (22-3)--Rolling Hills Coach Garry Poe is taking a bold approach to facing the 5-A Division’s No. 1 team: “We’re excited. It’s a real challenge. It’s fun playing the best. We get to find out how much we’ve improved.” Rolling Hills, which won five of its last six games to take third in the Bay League, will start either right-hander David Breneman (6-3) or left-hander Frank Nastanski (3-4). El Dorado snapped Esperanza’s four-year hold on the Empire League title with a team devoid of weaknesses. Right-handers Kevin Schula (6-1, 1.88 ERA) and Pete Janicki (7-1, 3.82) are capable pitchers, and the lineup has four players hitting over .400, led by DH Eddie Keller (.426, 8 home runs, 30 RBIs).

West Torrance (18-7) at Los Alamitos (20-6)--The Bay League runners-up must contend with Los Alamitos catcher Greg Pirkl, considered one of the top major-league prospects in Orange County. The 6-5, 225-pound senior is hitting .529 with 9 home runs and 38 RBIs. It’s tough to pitch around Pirkl because cleanup batter Mike Kelly, an outfielder headed for Arizona State, is hitting .467. Junior left-hander Winston Wolf (9-1, 1.57 ERA) is expected to start for Los Alamitos, runner-up in the Empire League. Left-hander Ted Holloway was West’s top pitcher in Bay League play, posting a 6-2 record. The Warriors have won 12 one-run decisions.

Leuzinger (12-16) at Fullerton (18-7)--Leuzinger left-hander Tyrone Scott emerged as one of the South Bay’s dominant pitchers in the last three weeks of the regular season. Unfortunately for Scott, the Olympians failed to support him offensively and he lost his last three starts. Scott will try again in the 4-A playoffs against Freeway League champion Fullerton, a team loaded with big bats. Outfielder Jeff Manship is hitting .432 with 7 home runs and 32 RBIs while first baseman Collin Milligan has a .451 average and 30 RBIs. Sophomore right-hander Rene Arias (7-1, 2.05 ERA) is Fullerton’s ace.

La Salle (11-9) at Serra (12-16)--Under first-year Coach Darren Fleming, Serra is making its first postseason appearance since 1974 in the 2-A playoffs. The Cavaliers took second in the Camino Real League, largely due to the efforts of pitcher Jeff Hazelett, pitcher-infielder Paul Beaman and outfielder Torrie Sweet. La Salle of Pasadena took third in the Santa Fe League.

Mary Star (13-11) at Azusa (12-12-1)--Azusa boasts the San Gabriel Valley’s top hitter in Corey Kapano, an infielder with a .613 batting average, 7 home runs and 41 RBIs. Mary Star, which tied for third in the Camino Real League, is led by pitcher Rick Ibarra and infielder Rich Negrete. Azusa took third in the Montview League, one of the toughest in 2-A.